Chapter 39 – Compromise
DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. xD
Author's Note: In which Sidious makes demands and Anakin and Padme finally talk. :')
~ Amina Gila
"Master," Anakin murmurs as he kneels in front of the hologram of Sidious. Dooku is already there, kneeling next to him
"It has come to my attention that Senator Amidala thought herself clever enough to end the war which we began," Sidious declares, and suddenly, Anakin has a feeling that he knows where this is going. No. No, he won't. He can't – "She has become a thorn in my side," the Sith Master continues, heedless of Anakin's silent panic. "The time has come, Lord Vader. I want you to kill her and the Jedi."
"I – I can't. Master, please." Anakin is careful to keep his head down, the perfect picture of submission.
"Very well. Lord Tyrannus, you know what to do." There's a dark, malicious glee in Sidious' voice, and Anakin can't help but wonder if he wants to torture the both of them.
"My Lord?" The surprise in Dooku's voice is real.
"Dispose of them," Sidious orders.
"There must be another way," Dooku protests. "Surely, we can –"
"You question me?" Their master's voice is cool, a hint of underlying anger in it.
No, it's worse than what Anakin initially thought. This is a trap for both of them. Sidious knew, of course, how they would respond, and he's speaking in such a way so as to provoke them into open mutiny. Why? Does it want Anakin to rebel? Or is he simply looking for an excuse to hurt or kill someone?
"Of course not," Dooku hastily reassures him. He doesn't look at Anakin, but Anakin knows that the Count wants him to remain silent. Unfortunately, he doesn't think that he has that luxury. Sidious is in an unreasonable mood right now, which means that anything short of complying to the letter will infuriate him. He'll take his anger out on someone, probably Anakin, but he's willing to accept that if Padme will live.
"Then do it."
Anakin inhales shakily, trying to control his fear. He doesn't want to lose her, not this soon. They haven't even had a chance to have a real relationship, a real marriage. "No, I – Master, I can't lose her," pleads Anakin.
He doesn't need to look up to know that Sidious is scowling. "Your attachment to her is very unbecoming of a true Sith," he snaps. "I spared the Jedi already, and your mother still lives."
It's a veiled threat, but Anakin won't back down now. He can't afford to. "I'll do anything, but please spare her life." His voice is shaking more than he can hide.
The Force sings a warning to him, though he doesn't heed it, of course, as lightning slams into him, coursing through his body and electrifying his nerves. He doesn't scream or cry out, at least he tries not to. Showing his pain will only make Sidious want to hurt him more. The Sith Master – he knows – wants to break him entirely, and he's been fighting tooth and nail to cling to his sanity. It's how it's always been.
When the attack, the punishment lets up, Anakin is lying on the floor, his robes smoking, his breath coming in gasps. He can feel Dooku's silent guilt, though he remains silent, not even looking at Anakin, though he probes Anakin with the Force to ensure he's alright. Anakin drags himself back into a proper position, ignoring the shaking in his limbs.
"I know you will not obey, so I believe a compromise is in order," Sidious proclaims. He's grinning; Anakin can feel it. "Lord Tyrannus, announce the capture and imminent execution of the Jedi and Senator. Lord Vader, I am authorizing you to enable their escape, but do it quietly. Upon their return to the Republic, they will both face repercussions for their actions. Senator Amidala will cease to be a threat to me, and her life will be saved. For now."
"Thank you, Master," Anakin murmurs, bowing. He hates how he can still feel gratitude towards this – this monster in front of him.
"As you wish, my Lord," Dooku agrees, dipping his own head in acquiescence.
Sidious chuckles darkly as he disconnects the transmission. There's a moment of silence, broken only by Anakin's labored breathing. "Go prepare them," the Count says at last. "I'll contact Kenobi. I think you could use his presence. Besides, I have another mission for Ventress to go on, and she won't need his help."
"Okay," Anakin agrees in a whisper as he unsteadily rises to his feet. He does want Obi-Wan here. He wants to have the elder man's comfort and reassurance, to have the affection he's willing to share, to have the steady calming of his presence. They fight together, lead battles together regularly, but it's always different when they're away from the front. The bond they've formed is unshakable, or so Anakin hopes, and he often finds himself wanting Obi-Wan's presence, even if he shouldn't. They're more than friends now, and he can't quite put a label to what the war has forged them into.
He ignores Dooku's sympathetic glance as he slips from the room, heading back to the holding cells. Though he doesn't know when the escape will occur, he knows that it will probably be tonight or in the morning. The sooner the better, he supposes, even if he will miss Padme's presence. Maybe he can talk to her, convince her that staying with him would be better than leaving. If she's with him, he'll be able to protect her better. He shakes the thought aside almost as quickly as it comes. She would never agree, and he has no way of convincing her to remain here without offering her the truth.
Anakin stumbles slightly when he reenters the prison level, and Ahsoka's sharp eyes see. She scurries over to him, completely disregarding Tachi, who had been talking to her. "Are you okay?" she demands, looking him up and down. "Did he –" Her breathing hitches slightly. "Did he hurt you?" she asks in a small voice.
"It doesn't matter," he says, keeping his voice steady, though he knows it's not very convincing.
Ahsoka tilts her head, frowning. "I… he electrocuted you, didn't he?" It's hardly even a question. She can, no doubt, smell the lingering ozone clinging to his body, the aftereffect of electrocution. "Should you even be walking?"
"Hey, I can move just fine, thank you very much," Anakin argues. "It wasn't that bad. I'll be okay." He tries to step around her, but she blocks his path.
"Why? Why did he hurt you? What happened?" she questions, worried.
"He's a sadist," Anakin answers, clenching his jaw. He couldn't hide the bitterness in his voice, even if he tries. "He was in a bad mood. I refused to kill the prisoners. I got electrocuted. It's no big deal." He knows Ahsoka is about to protest, but he doesn't want to have this argument right now. "We need to make preparations," he continues a bit louder than is necessary, ignoring her attempts to talk, "Because I will be helping the prisoners escape either tomorrow or in the morning."
There's a chorus of surprised 'what?'s from all three people on the level as Anakin strides resolutely to the end of the hall, looking between Padme and Tachi. "What do you mean?" Padme questions with a frown. "Why are you helping us escape?"
"Because my master wishes it," he replies with a shrug, "And it's better than killing you."
"That doesn't make sense," Tachi accuses. Her suspicion flares strongly into the Force. "Why would your master – you do mean Dooku, right? – agree to let us leave as an alternative to killing us?"
"Not Dooku," Anakin corrects. "Sidious. And he is masterminding the entire war. He, and he alone, can determine which pieces to move and how to play everything to his benefit." He's said enough. He won't answer any more questions on this topic.
"And… who is he?" Tachi inquires.
"Oh, Jedi, wouldn't you like to know?" he taunts, letting his eyes bleed yellow, the Dark Side filling him in a rush. "If I told you, you would interfere in our plans. Sometimes, the truth is best kept secret."
"But… if you told me, we could help you," she points out.
Anakin outright laughs at that, allowing his scorn to slip through his shields. "You can't help me," he states with surety. "You proved that a long time ago. The only people who can help me already are."
The Jedi says nothing to that, expression guarded and wary, as well it should be. He's a Sith, and it would do her good not to forget that. "Anakin, can I talk to you?" Padme asks. "Privately?" While she's technically asking, her tone indicates that it's more of a demand than a request.
Would it even matter if he agrees? It's not as if they'll be remaining here long enough for her inquiries to be problematic. Besides, if she tries to use this as an attempt to escape on her own, for whatever reason, then he still has the Force. She could never get past him and Ahsoka both. "If you must," he replies, opening the ray shield with a wave of his hand. "Follow me."
Anakin leads her to the interrogation room, closing the door behind them. The room is bare except for a table with two chairs on either side, one of which has mechanisms for restraints to be fitted in. They remain standing though, and Padme stares up at him as if she's trying to see through him. It's unnerving, and he consciously blanks his face, so she won't be able to discern anything from his expression or posture.
"You led the fleet that was prepared to attack Naboo," Padme states at last. Leave it to her to start with the most difficult subject first. "You grew up there. Why would you want to attack your home? Why would you want to endanger it in such a way?"
Anakin twitches slightly at her words, forcing himself to continue appearing visibly unfazed. "This is war," he replies, tone inflectionless. "We all have to make some sacrifices."
Padme looks at him as if she's never seen him before, though he can almost feel the gears turning in her mind. "You are willing to sacrifice your home?" she inquires lightly. "Your family? Me?" Her dark brown eyes are fiery. "I don't think so. It goes against everything I have ever known about you. I refuse to believe that you chose to do that."
And really, what can he say to that? How does he try to fool someone who can see through him so easily? It scares him, because he knows how independent, how passionate Padme can be. If she suspects something, she'll never stop searching until she proves or disproves it. It could easily land her in a world of trouble with Sidious, and if she crosses him or uncovers his secrets… Anakin very much doubts that anything he says or does will convince his master that his fiancée should be spared.
"You aren't going to stop pushing, are you," he mumbles bleakly. He doesn't see this ending in any way but disaster.
His Angel lifts her chin. "Never," she vows determinedly. She quiets, studying him carefully. "When I first met you, when you were still a young child, I saw a boy who was compassionate, who was selfless, never thinking of himself. You knew and understood the innate goodness within you, Ani, and I now wonder… what changed? Despite whatever you may have done, I still believe that there is good in you."
Anakin viciously tamps down the urge to argue, to make her see him, but to do that, he would have to let himself be Darth Vader fully. He – he doesn't want to hurt her, whether physically, emotionally, or mentally, not intentionally. It's too late, he realizes numbly, because Padme has seen and heard too much. She's already putting together the pieces, even if it won't be enough to lead her to Sidious. The Sith Master chose his hiding spot well; who would suspect that the elderly, well-meaning Chancellor could possibly be the cruel, malicious Darth Sidious?
"Who did this to you?" Padme whispers, voice infinitely gentle and sad. She steps forwards until she's almost touching him. "Who has tried to drive away the light within you? Who has – who has tried to… break you?" Her voice wavers on the end, and her eyes shine brightly with unshed tears. Anakin averts his gaze, unwilling to meet Padme's when she's this emotional. He knows that he'll never be able to hide the storm of emotion within him well enough to keep his gaze cool and distant.
Dismay unfurls within him because she's beginning to realize too much. She isn't – she shouldn't have been able to realize that he's – that he, for all intents and purposes, is Sidious' slave. Anger burns deep inside of him. He's a slave, playing at being a freeman, and it's the fault of the Jedi. Why did they adopt him out to a random, elderly politician who took an interest in him? How can it not be criminal and neglectful of them to not ensure that, if he's not going to be under their care, he ended up in a stable, save environment? Force, he wishes that Dooku had adopted him. At least that way, the both of them might have been able to escape from under Sidious' thumb.
Padme reaches up, fingers brushing over his jaw, and his thoughts screech to a halt as he shamelessly leans into her touch, eyes snapping back to hers, wild and desperate. He needs this moment, needs her, and he can't bear the thought of losing her again, never knowing when – or if, he dares not add – he'll see her again. Her expression is open, uncertain, and it tears at him to know that he's the one who is causing her pain.
"I don't understand any of this," she admits, voice raw and vulnerable. "Can you help me understand?" If only he could.
For a moment, Anakin impulsively considers giving in and telling her the truth she wants to know. He considers convincing her to join him, so they won't have to fear being separated. But it's only a dream, nothing more, and he lets it die almost as soon as it's born. Padme's touch, her hand on his cheek, is driving him insane, making him want to let go of his carefully guarded reservations and control, so he steps backwards, inhaling shakily. She's made an emotional appeal to him, and the only way for him to get away without answering is to do likewise.
Anakin hesitates for only a moment, before dropping to his knees in front of her. It's eerily reminiscent of the moment when Anakin asked her to marry him. Their engagement seems like so long ago, like something out of another reality entirely. Padme sucks in a startled breath, and Anakin knows that the memories of the last time, as well as the implications of the gesture, are not lost on her. It's a position of submission.
He reaches out, taking her hands in his as he stares up into her eyes. "Do you trust me?"
Padme blinks, a lone tear escaping, and he can acutely feel her pain and heartbreak, though for what, he doesn't know. For him? He's – he doesn't – she shouldn't agonize over him like that. He doesn't deserve it, not this. "Of course."
She shouldn't, he thinks bitterly, especially as her sincerity echoes into the Force. It might have hurt him less if she had lied, if she was only trying, however fruitlessly, to spare his feelings. "Then, Angel, please stop searching for answers. It will only hurt us both if you don't." He hesitates, uncertain how much he should even say, but he's gone this far. It shouldn't matter if he confirms her suspicions even more. "My – my master uses those I care about to manipulate me," he confesses quietly, "And he will hurt you to get to me if you give him enough reason. I will not apologize for my actions, because I do not regret them –" Lies. He regrets some things, though not as much as he should. If anything, he regrets not regretting what he's done. "– but you – this cannot happen again. He will not spare you a second time."
Padme flinches, tugging on his hands to pull him back to his feet. He rises as she flings her arms around him, burying his face against his chest. She's trembling, but he doesn't think she's actually crying. Moving on automatic, Anakin brings his arms up to embrace her, resting his head on hers as he holds her. He loves her. He loves her so much he doesn't know what he would ever do without her.
"I'm sorry," Padme murmurs, tilting her head back to look up at him. Her eyes are dry, though they're pained. He wishes he could do something, anything to get rid of the sorrow she's now carrying. "I'm sorry that I never tried to check on you sooner, that I didn't convince my parents to adopt you." She sniffs slightly, blinking. "I know they would have loved to if I had asked."
It's touching, more than it has any right to be, but in the end, it would never have worked out. If anything, Anakin might have lost her even sooner, because Sidious would have, no doubt, tried to eliminate the entire Naberrie family for interference. But still, a part of his mind can't help but cling to the 'what if's', wondering what might have been had he been raised by Padme's family. He's certain that they would have ensured his mother was freed and brought to live with them. Overall, it would have meant a far better, happier future for both of them, or so he hopes.
Padme seems to sense the tumult in his mind – and for whatever reason, he doesn't exactly… mind that she can see him more clearly now, see what his life has truly been like, beyond the image of perfection which he'd always projected – because she squeezes him a little tighter before leaning up to kiss him. It's entirely unexpected, that he forgets, for a second, how to respond, and when he finally returns the kiss, his brain whites out altogether, thoughts fleeing from the passion and desire which rush through him.
She pulls back after a minute – or longer, he has no idea – and remains burrowed in his embrace, seemingly content to stay there. Anakin has no objections either, and why would he? He'll savor this stolen moment, knowing that Padme will soon be gone, back with the Republic, and only the Force knows when they'll meet again.
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